📰Today’s article
Title
Clashing Narratives over a Senkaku/Diaoyu Coast-Guard Encounter Deepen Japan–China Tensions
尖閣／釣魚諸島沖の海上衝突をめぐる主張対立が日中の緊張を深める
Article
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| China and Japan’s coast guards gave different accounts of a confrontation near islands in East China Sea. China’s Coast Guard said a Japanese fishing vessel illegally entered waters of the Diaoyu Islands, which Tokyo calls Senkaku Islands. The islands are administered by Japan but claimed by China. Japan’s Coast Guard said it intercepted and expelled two Chinese ships Tuesday. | 東シナ海の諸島付近で起きた対峙について、中国と日本の海上当局は異なる説明を示した。中国海警は、日本の漁船が東京が尖閣諸島と呼ぶ釣魚島の海域に違法に侵入したと述べた。この諸島は日本が管轄するが、中国が領有を主張している。日本の海上保安庁は、火曜日に中国公船2隻を阻止して退去させたと述べた。 |
| Ties have spiraled since Japan’s leader made controversial Taiwan comments last month. In November, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a vocal critic of China, suggested Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan. Beijing views self-governed Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out using force to “reunite” with it. Taiwan is about 160km southwest of the Senkaku Islands. | 先月、日本の指導者が台湾に関する物議を醸す発言をして以来、関係は悪化している。11月、対中批判で知られる高市早苗首相は、もし北京が台湾を攻撃した場合、東京は軍事行動を取り得ると示唆した。北京は自治的な台湾を自国の領土と見なし、「統一」のための武力行使を排除していない。台湾は尖閣諸島の南西約160キロに位置する。 |
| China Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun said Chinese vessels approached, warning off a Japanese fishing boat that “illegally entered the territorial waters of China’s Diaoyu Dao”, according to state media. Liu added the CCG took “necessary law enforcement measures”, said the islands were Chinese territory, and urged Japan to “immediately stop all acts of infringement and provocation in these waters”. | 中国の国営メディアによれば、中国海警の劉徳軍報道官は、中国公船が接近し、「中国の釣魚島の領海に違法に侵入」した日本の漁船に退去警告を発したと述べた。劉氏はさらに、海警が「必要な法執行措置」を取ったとし、同諸島は中国の領土だと主張して、日本に対し「この海域でのあらゆる侵害・挑発行為を直ちにやめるよう」促した。 |
| The Japan Coast Guard offered a slightly different account, saying it approached the Chinese vessels after they entered Japanese waters early Tuesday and demanded they leave. The JCG’s patrol ship ensured the fishing boat’s safety until the CCG left the territory hours later, it said. Both sides have since used increasingly hostile rhetoric, affecting daily life in both countries. | 海上保安庁はやや異なる説明を示し、火曜日の早朝に中国公船が日本の領海に入った後に接近して退去を求めたと述べた。海保の巡視船は、その数時間後に中国海警が同海域を離れるまで漁船の安全を確保したという。以降、双方はより攻撃的な言辞を用いるようになり、両国の人々の日常生活に影響が及んでいる。 |
| China has sent more ships toward the uninhabited Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, apparently testing Japan’s resolve. Last year saw record-high days Chinese government vessels were spotted, for a third-consecutive year, and record-high CCG vessels. On 16 November, the CCG described its previous entry as “a lawful patrol operation conducted by the China coast guard to uphold its rights and interests”. | 中国は無人の尖閣／釣魚諸島周辺により多くの船を向かわせ、日本の対応力を試しているように見える。昨年は、中国公船が確認された日数が過去最多となり、これは3年連続であり、海警の船数も過去最多となった。11月16日、中国海警は以前の進入を「中国海警が権利と利益を維持するために実施した合法的な巡回活動」だと説明した。 |
📘Vocabulary
- confrontation – noun
- Meaning: a situation where two sides meet and oppose each other directly.
- Example: The meeting turned into a confrontation when neither side agreed to compromise.
- 意味: 二者が直接向き合って対立する状況。
- 例文: 妥協に同意しなかったため、その会議は対立に発展した。
- intercept – verb
- Meaning: to stop and go to meet something or someone before it reaches a place.
- Example: The patrol boats moved quickly to intercept the approaching vessels.
- 意味: 目的地に到達する前に進路を遮って止める。
- 例文: 巡視船は接近する船を阻止するため素早く動いた。
- expel – verb
- Meaning: to force someone or something to leave a place.
- Example: The guards expelled the intruders after issuing several warnings.
- 意味: 人や物をその場所から強制的に退去させる。
- 例文: 警備員は数回警告した後、侵入者を退去させた。
- rhetoric – noun
- Meaning: language used to influence people, often strong or emotional.
- Example: The leaders’ rhetoric intensified during the dispute over the islands.
- 意味: 人々に影響を与えるために用いられる、しばしば強い言葉遣い。
- 例文: 島をめぐる争いの中で、指導者たちの言辞は一層強まった。
- uphold – verb
- Meaning: to defend or keep a rule, right, or decision in place.
- Example: The agency said the patrol was conducted to uphold its rights and interests.
- 意味: 規則・権利・決定などを守り、維持する。
- 例文: 当局は、その巡回は自らの権利と利益を維持するために行ったと述べた。
📝Let’s summarize
| Summary | 要約 |
|---|---|
| China and Japan reported conflicting versions of a coast-guard encounter near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, amid worsening ties after Tokyo’s Taiwan remarks. Each side claimed jurisdiction and protection actions, issued warnings, and cited patrols as lawful measures while deployments increased. | 日本の台湾発言後に関係が悪化する中、尖閣／釣魚諸島付近での海上当局の対峙について中国と日本は相反する説明を示した。双方は管轄や保護行為を主張し、警告や巡回の合法性を挙げ、配備の増加が続いているとした。 |
| [Word Count: 39 words] |
❓Comprehension Questions
Q1: What did China’s Coast Guard claim about the Japanese fishing vessel?
A. It said the vessel was escorted to port by Chinese rescue teams.
B. It said the vessel conducted research with permission from both governments that day.
C. It said the vessel illegally entered waters of the Diaoyu Islands that day.
D. It said the vessel refused contact and remained outside Chinese territorial waters.
問1: 中国海警は日本の漁船について何を主張したか。
Correct answer: C
正解選択肢: その漁船はその日、釣魚島の海域に違法に侵入したと述べた。
該当文: “China’s Coast Guard said a Japanese fishing vessel illegally entered waters of the Diaoyu Islands, which Tokyo calls Senkaku Islands.”
Q2: According to the Japan Coast Guard, how did it respond after the Chinese vessels entered Japanese waters?
A. It ignored the ships and suspended patrols for the remainder of Tuesday.
B. It approached the Chinese vessels and demanded they leave immediately after entry.
C. It escorted the Chinese vessels to a nearby port for talks with officials.
D. It monitored from shore because the seas were too rough to sail.
問2: 中国公船が日本の領海に入った後、海上保安庁はどのように対応したか。
Correct answer: B
正解選択肢: 侵入直後に中国公船へ接近して退去を要求した。
該当文: “The Japan Coast Guard offered a slightly different account, saying it approached the Chinese vessels after they entered Japanese waters early Tuesday and demanded they leave.”
Q3: What trend about ship activity near the islands does the article mention?
A. It mentions record-high days Chinese government vessels were spotted for a third-consecutive year, and record-high CCG vessels.
B. It reports a sharp decline in patrols and fewer encounters around the islands.
C. It says joint Japan–China patrols began to deescalate the maritime situation last month.
D. It notes that all ships avoided the area due to heavy storms.
問3: 島周辺の船舶活動について記事はどのような傾向を述べているか。
Correct answer: A
正解選択肢: 中国公船の確認日数が3年連続で過去最多となり、海警の船数も過去最多だと述べている。
該当文: “Last year saw record-high days Chinese government vessels were spotted, for a third-consecutive year, and record-high CCG vessels.”
💬Today’s your thoughts
Question
Should both coast guards promptly release full incident videos to the public after such encounters?
このような対峙の後、双方の海上当局は事案の全映像を速やかに一般公開すべきでしょうか。
Model Answer – 1（肯定的立場）
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Releasing full videos quickly is necessary to maintain transparency and public trust. | 透明性と公共の信頼を維持するため、速やかに全映像を公開することは必要だ。 |
| Firstly, timely disclosure helps verify facts when accounts differ, because clear records reduce speculation. For example, if unedited footage shows the exact positions and warnings, viewers can judge claims themselves. This shows that openness may deter misinformation and calm later disputes. | まず、説明が食い違うときに、迅速な開示は事実確認に役立つ。明確な記録は憶測を減らすからだ。例えば、編集されていない映像が位置関係や警告内容を示せば、視聴者は主張を自ら判断できる。これにより、公開性は誤情報を抑止し、後の争いを落ち着かせ得ることが示される。 |
| In addition, routine publication could improve behavior at sea, because crews know actions will be reviewed. For instance, body-cam rules have changed conduct in other fields; similar visibility could encourage rule-following here. Consequently, consistent release could promote safer interactions during future patrols. | さらに、定例的な公開は海上での行動改善につながり得る。行為が検証されると乗組員が認識するからだ。例えば、ボディカメラの規則が他分野の行動を変えたように、同様の可視性は順法を促し得る。その結果、継続的な公開は今後の巡回でより安全なやり取りを促進し得る。 |
| I reaffirm that rapid, complete releases support transparency and fairness. In brief, they provide common evidence, discourage risky conduct, and help societies evaluate claims responsibly while tensions persist. | 迅速かつ完全な公開は透明性と公正を支えると改めて主張する。要するに、共通の証拠を提供し、危険な行動を抑止し、緊張が続く中でも社会が主張を責任ある形で評価する助けとなる。 |
| [Word Count: 108 words] |
Model Answer – 2（否定的立場）
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Immediate full releases are risky and could undermine safety and sensitive operations. | 即時の全映像公開はリスクが高く、保安や機微な作戦を損ない得る。 |
| Firstly, raw videos may reveal patrol patterns and capabilities, because equipment layouts and response timing become visible. For example, sharing every clip could expose sensor ranges or warning procedures. This shows that premature disclosure could aid adversaries and increase operational hazards at sea. | まず、生の映像は装備配置や応答のタイミングが見えるため、巡回パターンや能力を露呈し得る。例えば、すべての映像を共有すると、センサーの射程や警告手順が暴露され得る。これにより、早すぎる開示は相手方を利し、海上での作戦上の危険を増やし得ることが示される。 |
| Moreover, public releases can inflame disputes, because clips are easily misread without context. For instance, short segments online may omit warnings or location data; audiences could draw firm conclusions. Consequently, a review-first approach with redactions could better balance clarity and security. | さらに、公開は文脈がなければ誤解を招きやすく、争いをあおり得る。例えば、オンラインの短い抜粋は警告や位置情報を欠くかもしれず、聴衆は早計な結論に至り得る。その結果、まず検証し必要な編集を施す方法のほうが、明確さと安全保障の均衡を取りやすい。 |
| Therefore, I oppose automatic immediate releases. Instead, authorities should publish detailed summaries first and share full videos after careful review, protecting methods while still informing the public. | したがって、機械的な即時公開には反対する。代わりに、当局は詳細な要約を先に公開し、十分な審査の後に全映像を共有し、手法を守りつつ市民に情報提供すべきだ。 |
| [Word Count: 104 words] |
News Source: BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crk7xjpv8gmo